Mr. Watts: Regular meetings are held between OPRAF and British Rail
to discuss a wide range of issues. The decision to withdraw Motorail
services and the London--Fort William sleeper service from May was taken by
BR on commercial grounds.

Mr. McLeish: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport under what
statutory powers the Director of Franchising and OPRAF were acting when the
decision was taken to exclude the Fort William sleeper and Motorail
services from the passenger service requirement for ScotRail.
[15747]

Mr. Watts: In indicating that he would not include the Fort William
sleeper service and Motorail services in the draft passenger service
requirement for ScotRail, the Franchising Director was acting within the
bounds of the statutory objectives, instructions and guidance issued by my
right hon. Friend the Member for Norfolk, South (Mr. MacGregor) on 22 March
1994 in accordance with the provisions of section 5 of the Railways Act
1993.

Mr. Charles Kennedy: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1)
what assessment he has made of the additional costs associated with
maintenance of the (a) Fort William to London sleeper service, (b) Carlisle
to London sleeper service and (c) Scotland to London motorail services, for
the purpose of an eight week consultation period commencing in May,
indicating the financial assumptions involved; and if he will make a
statement; [15139]

(2) what estimate he has made of the costs associated with the closure of
the (a) Fort William to London sleeper service, (b) Carlisle to London
sleeper service and (c) Scotland to London motorail services; and if he
will make a statement; [15141] (3) what estimate he has made of the
start up costs associated with re-opening, after May, the (a) Fort William
to London sleeper service, (b) Carlisle to London sleeper service and (c)
Scotland to London Motorail services; and if he will make a statement.
[15140]

Mr. Watts: My right hon. Friend has not made any such assessments on
estimates. The decision to withdraw Motorail services and the sleeper
service between London and Carlisle and London and Fort William from 28 May
was a commercial decision by British Rail. It has undertaken to retain the
assets needed to run these services so that they can be restored if the
Franchising Director decides to include them in the passenger service
requirement for the ScotRail franchise.

Birmingham Northern Relief Road

Ms Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he
will ensure that the inquiry into the Birmingham northern relief road is
based on a re-assessment of traffic models and growth forecasts;
[15257]

(2) what account he has taken of the effects of congestion of the traffic
model assumption in respect of the Birmingham northern relief road which
assumes that for roads which are full traffic will grow at a reduced rate;
[15255]

(3) on what basis traffic modellers have ignored heavy goods vehicles in
respect of the Birmingham northern relief road; and if he will make a
statement; [15254]

(4) what assessment he has made of the impact of an (a) untolled and (b)
tolled west orbital road in respect of

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the Birmingham northern relief road.
[15256]

Mr. Watts: These are matters for the Highways Agency. I have asked
the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.

Letter from Laurie Haynes to Ms Joan Walley, dated 23 March 1995:

You asked the Secretary of State for information about the traffic
modelling used for the Birmingham Northern Relief Road. We are satisfied
that the traffic model uses a robust methodology and has taken account of
significant changes, such as the SACTRA report, which have arisen since the
draft Orders were published. The ongoing public inquiry into the proposals
has received much information on traffic flows and techniques. It will be
for the Inspector to form his own judgement on that evidence.

The Original (February 1994) BNRR traffic forecasts assumed a tolled
Western Orbital Route. The latest (November 1994) forecasts assume a WOR
that will be free to motorists. The traffic impacts of these differing
assumptions are contained in evidence placed before the inquiry.

HGVs are not ignored in the traffic model. Tests established the most
appropriate methodology for the evaluation of the BNRR proposals; this
ensures the most realistic estimate of HGV routing. Details of the
methodology used have been presented to the inquiry. The traffic model
takes account of the capacity of the roads in the area. Reduced growth
rates have been assumed for all journeys with one or both ends in the
conurbation, in line with assumptions made by local highway authorities in
the conurbation.

ENVIRONMENT

Hydrofluorocarbons

Mr. Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for the
Environment what plans he has to set targets for the phasing out of HFCs.
[14984]

Mr. Atkins: There are no plans to phase out HFCs, nor to set targets
for phaseout. HFCs have been developed as alternatives to some ozone-
depleting substances and are an important part of the solution to the
problem of depletion of the ozone layer. However, HFCs are also greenhouse
gases and the Government are discussing with industry the scope for
voluntary agreements to limit HFC emissions and to ensure that HFCs are not
used where emissions are unavoidable if safe, practical and more
environmental acceptable alternatives are available.

Local Government Commission

Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment
what qualities he will look for in appointing a new chair of the revamped
Local Government Commission. [15058]

Mr. Robert B. Jones: On 21 March my right hon. Friend announced the
appointment of Sir David Cooksey to the chairmanship of the Local
Government Commission, Official Report , column 145 . I believe Sir David
has all the qualities required of the chairman, and I note that his
appointment was immediately welcomed by the hon. Member for Holborn and St.
Pancras (Mr. Dobson).

Local Government Reorganisation

Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for the
Environment (1) if he will list the English counties, following the current
reorganisation of local government, that will have no administrative
function but will have a

Column 319

lord lieutenant and sheriff; [15072]

(2) if he will list the English counties, following the current
reorganisation of local government, which are to be extended beyond their
administrative boundaries for ceremonial purposes and where lords
lieutenant and sheriffs will have jurisdiction over the wider area;
[15070]

(3) if he will list the English counties, following the current
reorganisation of local government, that will have no functions.
[15071]

Mr. Robert B. Jones: Decisions have not yet been taken in all cases.
However, I expect that the only county areas without any county councils
but with their own lords lieutenant will be Berkshire and East Yorkshire.
Most areas whose local authority is granted unitary powers will be deemed
to be part of a neighbouring county area for ceremonial purposes.

In those areas for which structure orders have been made, North West
Somerset and Bath and North East Somerset will be deemed to be part of
Somerset; South Gloucestershire will be deemed to be part of
Gloucestershire; North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire will be
deemed to be part of Lincolnshire; York will be deemed to be part of North
Yorkshire; and Hull will be deemed to be part of East Yorkshire. We are
still considering the ceremonial arrangements for Cleveland.

Lords Lieutenant

Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for the
Environment if he will list the English county councils which have their
own lord lieutenant and sheriff. [15073]

Mr. Robert B. Jones: A lord lieutenant and high sheriff are
appointed to the following counties:

Greater London

Greater Manchester

Merseyside

South Yorkshire

Tyne and Wear

West Midlands

West Yorkshire

Avon

Bedfordshire

Berkshire

Buckinghamshire

Cambridgeshire

Cheshire

Cleveland

Cornwall

Cumbria

Derbyshire

Devon

Dorset

Durham

East Sussex

Essex

Gloucestershire

Hampshire

Hereford and Worcester

Hertfordshire

Humberside

Isle of Wight

Kent

Lancashire

Liecestershire

Column 320

Lincolnshire

Norfolk

Northamptonshire

Northumberland

North Yorkshire

Nottinghamshire

Oxfordshire

Shopshire

Somerset

Staffordshire

Suffolk

Surrey

Warwickshire

West Sussex

Wiltshire

Air Pollution

Mr. McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what
discussions have taken place with his European ministerial counterparts
concerning the need to reduce levels of air pollution. [15127]

Mr. Atkins: I maintain regular contacts with my European ministerial
counterparts on all aspects of environmental protection, including air
pollution. Most recently, I met my European Community counterparts in
Brussels on 9 March at the meeting of the Environment Council. We had a
fruitful discussion on a number of issues related to air pollution,
including the proposed directive on integrated pollution prevention and
control and the proposed framework directive on ambient air quality
assessment and management.

Mr. McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what
steps he will take to reduce levels of air pollution; and if he will make a
statement. [15133]

Mr. Atkins: The Government announced their strategic policies for
managing air quality in the document "Air Quality: Meeting the Challenge",
published on 19 January. Copies are available in the House Libraries. Those
policies are aimed at delivering sustainable improvements in air quality
throughout the UK. Proposals include a framework of national air quality
standards, a new system of local air quality assessment and management and
an action plan for transport.

National Rivers Authority

Mr. Alan W. Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for the
Environment what was the level of (a) grant in aid, (b) internal income
generated and (c) total budget for the National Rivers Authority for each
year since its establishment. [15321]

Mr. Atkins: The level of grant in aid, income generated from charges
and levies and total expenditure of the National Rivers authority are:

Mr. Alan W. Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for the
Environment what was the total number of people working (a) full time and
(b) part time for the National Rivers Authority in each year since it was
established. [15322]

Mr. Atkins: The NRA does not separately record numbers of part-time
staff. The data show permanent staff, including part-time staff, and
temporary staff, including those working for limited periods and those on
fixed term contracts:

Mr. Alan W. Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for the
Environment if he will list each of the major establishments which are part
of the National Rivers Authority, giving number of employees and budget for
(a) 1993 94, (b) 1994 95 and (c) 1995 96 in 1994 prices. [15316]

Mr. Atkins: The number of people employed by the National Rivers
Authority on each of its functions is:

Regional Water Companies

Ms Armstrong: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if
he will list for each regional water company (a) the net equity proceeds to
Government as a result of privatisation, (b) the market value at the end of
the first day of trading and (c) the current market value. [15351]

Mr. Atkins: Information on the proceeds resulting from
privatisation, the market capitalisation at flotation and movement in share
values at the end of the first day's trading in shares in the 10 water
holding companies in England and Wales, is contained in the National Audit
Office report "Department of the Environment: Sale of the Water Authorities
in England and Wales", a copy of which is in the Library. Current market
values vary according to fluctuations in the share price of the companies.
This information is not held by my Department.

Local Authorities

Mr. David Shaw: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if
he will bring forward legislation to require local authorities to disclose
in their annual accounts (a) the number of staff employed, (b) their total
remuneration, (c) the number of staff in receipt of remuneration in excess
of £10,000 per annum in salary bands of £5, 000 and (d) the
remuneration of the highest paid chief officer in a format similar to that
used in company accounts. [15165]

Mr. Robert B. Jones: There is a strong case for local authorities to
publish details of the pay of their senior staff in broadly the same way as
companies are required to publish details of the pay of their senior
employees. However, I am keen to keep the new obligations on local
authorities under control.

My Department is considering what information it would be appropriate for
local authorities to publish and the best way for the local authorities to
be encouraged to make that information public. Of course, no new
stipulations would be introduced without consultation with the local
authority associations.

Mrs. Roche: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what
were the (a) total staff numbers, (b) total revenue and capital expenditure
and (c) local

Column 323

authority housing stock in all district
authorities in East and West Sussex. [14890]

Mr. Robert B. Jones [holding answer 22 March 1995]: The
available information is:

Mr. Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he
will make a statement on his proposals for local authority participation in
companies and for amending the capital finance regulations. [16203]

Mr. Curry: The Local Authorities (Companies) Order 1995 and the
Local Authorities (Capital Finance and Approved Investments) (Amendment)
Regulations 1995 have today been laid before Parliament. These implement
the package of proposals to encourage closer partnership between local
authorities and the private sector, announced by my right hon. Friend on 31
October 1994.

The Local Authorities (Companies) Order 1995 establishes a regime for local
authority participation in companies, under which those companies,
including companies limited by guarantee, which are led by the private
sector will be subject to few controls other than those applicable
generally under the Companies Acts. We are providing in the regime
transitional provisions for local authority companies established before 1
April 1995, and we are also allowing certain exemptions.

The Local Authorities (Capital Finance and Approved Investments)
(Amendment) Regulations 1995 make a number of changes to the local
authority capital finance rules, with the intention of promoting the use of
private finance.

The order and regulations laid take account of extensive consultation
conducted by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the
Environment and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales with
the local authority associations, individual local authorities, and other
interested parties. The main changes made following this will:

Column 324

free authorities of all subsequent capital
finance impact from a company's operations provided it leaves the public
sector, permanently, by 31 March 1996.

increase to 75 per cent. the usable proportion of receipts of sale of local
authority shareholdings in airport companies arising before 1 April 1997,
and in bus companies arising before 31 March 1996. This was announced by my
right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport on 3 March, Official
Report, column 732 . allow authorities holding leases of non-housing
property taken out before 1988 to extend them for up to 10 years without
capital costs.

allow authorities to transfer assets to companies in return for a mixed
consideration of cash and shares, without needing to set resources aside in
relation to the shares.

The regulations also introduce other beneficial changes which reflect
consultations with and representations from local authorities. These will:

allow authorities to renew, for up to two years without capital cost,
leases on privately owned homes expiring after 20 December 1994. This will
enable authorities to continue present arrangements by renewing short-term
leases on good quality homes in the private rented sector, rather than
using bed-and-breakfast hotels to provide temporary accommodation. The use
of bed and breakfast accommodation has fallen by 43 per cent. over two
years.

allow costs of computer software to be capitalised.

In addition, there are many clarificatory and drafting changes. I will also
be laying before Parliament later in the year further regulations which
will have the effect of increasing to 90 per cent. the usable proportion of
local authorities' receipts from sales of car parks and retail property
arising between 1 September 1995 and 31 August 1996.

Thus local authorities and prospective private sector partners can now look
forward to a total of four targeted